0%

15-letter words containing c, i, r, u

  • silicone rubber — any of the synthetic rubbers made from silicone elastomers.
  • silviculturally — with reference to silviculture
  • simple fracture — a fracture in which the bone does not pierce the skin.
  • single currency — a currency that is common to different countries
  • sled cultivator — go-devil (def 5).
  • snafu principle — /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ [WWII Army acronym for "Situation Normal: All Fucked Up"] "True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." - a central tenet of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly: In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto their leader, saying: "It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer." And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project leader: "It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor thereof." And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying: "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it." The section head then hurried to his department manager, and informed him thus: "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." The department manager carried these words to his general manager, and spoke unto him saying: "It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong." And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President. "It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful." The Vice President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: "This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!" And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very good. After the subsequent disaster, the suits protect themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors are demoted or fired.
  • social security — (usually initial capital letters) a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.
  • socioculturally — from a sociocultural point of view
  • sodium chlorate — a colorless, water-soluble solid, NaClO 3 , cool and salty to the taste, used chiefly in the manufacture of explosives and matches, as a textile mordant, and as an oxidizing and bleaching agent.
  • sodium chloride — salt1 (def 1).
  • sodium citrates — the sodium salts of citric acid (monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, trisodium citrate)
  • sound recordist — recordist.
  • sounding rocket — a rocket equipped with instruments for making meteorological observations in the upper atmosphere.
  • source material — original, authoritative, or basic materials utilized in research, as diaries or manuscripts.
  • southern gothic — a literary genre depicting life in the southern US and featuring grotesque themes and imagery
  • special feature — an article differing from the normal format and focusing on a particular topic
  • spinach-rhubarb — an Ethiopian plant, Rumex abyssinicus, of the buckwheat family, having leaves that are sometimes used as spinach and leafstalks sometimes used as rhubarb.
  • spinous process — a spinelike process of a bone, especially the dorsal projection from the center of the arch of a vertebra.
  • spiny cocklebur — a cocklebur, Xanthium spinosum, introduced into North America from Europe.
  • squelch circuit — a circuit which disconnects a receiver in order to eliminate output noise when no signal or an extremely weak signal is received
  • static pressure — the pressure exerted by a fluid that is not moving or flowing.
  • statutory crime — a wrong punishable under a statute, rather than at common law.
  • steering column — the shaft that connects the steering wheel to the steering gear assembly of an automotive vehicle.
  • storm insurance — insurance cover against damage caused by windstorms
  • streptobacillus — any of various bacilli that form in chains.
  • strike it lucky — to have some good luck
  • structural iron — iron shaped for use in construction.
  • sub-corporation — an association of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members. See also municipal corporation, public corporation.
  • subcommissioner — a member of a subcommission
  • subject-raising — a rule that moves the subject of a complement clause into the clause in which it is embedded, as in the derivation of He is likely to be late from It is likely that he will be late
  • subsidiary cell — Immunology. any of various cells of the immune system that work with T or B cells to initiate a specific immune response.
  • subsidiary coin — a coin, especially one made of silver, having a value less than that of the monetary unit.
  • subtrochanteric — Anatomy. either of two knobs at the top of the femur, the greater on the outside and the lesser on the inside, serving for the attachment of muscles between the thigh and pelvis.
  • sulfite process — a process for making wood pulp by digesting wood chips in an acid liquor consisting of sulfurous acid and a salt, usually calcium bisulfite.
  • sulphurous acid — an unstable acid produced when sulphur dioxide dissolves in water: used as a preservative for food and a bleaching agent. Formula: H2SO3
  • summer solstice — the solstice on or about June 21st that marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • sunrise service — (sometimes initial capital letters) an outdoor religious service held at dawn on Easter morning.
  • super-committee — a committee with members from two or more organizations or political groups
  • super-efficient — performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort; having and using requisite knowledge, skill, and industry; competent; capable: a reliable, efficient assistant.
  • superconfidence — great or extreme confidence, overconfidence
  • superconvenient — highly convenient
  • superefficiency — the quality or condition of being superefficient
  • superexcitation — the act of exciting.
  • superficialness — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
  • superintendence — a district or place under a superintendent.
  • superintendency — a district or place under a superintendent.
  • superplasticity — the phenomenon, exhibited by certain metals and alloys usually at high temperatures, of stretching to extreme lengths without breaking
  • superspecialist — a highly skilled specialist
  • supreme council — the legislature of the former Soviet Union and its successor states, consisting of an upper house (Soviet of the Union or Council of the Union) whose delegates are elected on the basis of population, and a lower house (Soviet of Nationalities or Council of Nationalities) whose delegates are elected to represent the various nationalities.
  • surface density — quantity, as of electric charge, per unit surface area.
Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?